In mid-December 2025, new INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard data ranked Cape Town as the 6th most congested city in the world, with drivers losing about 96 hours a year stuck in traffic.[1] For thousands of South African commuters, this Cape Town traffic congestion 2025 reality means more time in gridlock, higher fuel bills and rising South Africa traffic emissions. But there’s a solution already helping everyday commuters save money while cutting emissions: carpooling South Africa–style through safe, verified platforms like CrabaRide.
The latest INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard confirms what you probably feel at every robot: traffic is getting worse almost everywhere.[2][3] Globally, 62% of urban areas saw increased traffic delays in 2025 compared to 2024, as more people and cars squeeze onto the same roads.[3]
Cape Town now ranks 6th worldwide for congestion, and drivers there lose around 96 hours a year in traffic – that’s nearly four full days of your life, every year, idling on the N1, N2 or M5.[1] While congestion in Cape Town only rose about 2% compared to last year, it has jumped a massive 16% since 2023.[1]
South Africa’s growing vehicle numbers, urban sprawl and inconsistent public transport options mean more people feel forced into driving alone. That single decision, repeated by millions of commuters in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town, is what drives South Africa traffic emissions higher every year.
If you commute in Gauteng, the Western Cape or KZN, you don’t need a report to tell you traffic is bad – you feel it in your wallet and your stress levels.
A Sandton to Midrand commute on the N1 that should take 20–25 minutes easily stretches to 45 minutes or more in peak traffic.
A Cape Town CBD worker driving from Khayelitsha or Mitchells Plain spends hours every week crawling via the N2, losing time that could be spent with family.
Durban commuters heading from Pinetown to Umhlanga via the M13 and N2 know how one crash or broken-down taxi can gridlock everything for ages.
All those wasted hours have three big consequences:
Higher costs: More idling means more fuel burned. Add e-tolls (where applicable), parking and vehicle wear-and-tear, and your monthly commute can feel like another bond payment.
Higher emissions: Transport is a major source of South Africa traffic emissions, with private cars a big contributor in cities. One person per car is the least efficient way to move people.
Higher stress: Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, dealing with aggressive lane changes, combis pushing in and near misses at every robot is exhausting. It impacts your mood, your health and even your work performance.
The INRIX data is a wake-up call: if Cape Town is already losing 96 hours a year to gridlock, and congestion is rising worldwide, simply adding more lanes will not fix this.[1][2][3] We need fewer cars on the road at peak times – not more.
Carpooling (or joining a lift club, as we call it here) is one of the fastest, most practical ways to ease both congestion and emissions without waiting years for new infrastructure.
When two, three or four people share one car instead of driving separately:
You remove extra vehicles from the road, easing congestion on key corridors like the N1 (Joburg–Pretoria), N2 (Cape Town and Durban), and R21 (Ekurhuleni–Pretoria).
You cut per-person emissions dramatically. One car with four people produces roughly a quarter of the emissions per passenger compared to four separate cars doing the same route.
You slash your commuting costs by sharing fuel, tolls and sometimes parking. Many regular CrabaRide users save 50–70% on their monthly travel costs by sharing lifts.
Unlike big policy changes, carpooling doesn’t require government approval, new infrastructure or long planning cycles. It’s something you and your colleagues or neighbours can start this week.
Traditional lift clubs in South Africa have always existed – a WhatsApp group of colleagues from Centurion to Sandton, or neighbours who share a taxi or hike into town. The problem has often been safety, trust and coordination.
Who is this person I’m getting into a car with?
Is the car roadworthy and properly registered?
What if someone doesn’t pay or cancels last minute?
CrabaRide was built to solve exactly these challenges for carpooling South Africa:
Verified users: All drivers and passengers are ID-verified, and drivers’ cars are checked against their registration details. That means you’re not climbing into a stranger’s car off the street – you’re joining a verified community.
Clear profiles and ratings: You can see user profiles, ratings and history, making it easier to choose people you’re comfortable travelling with.
Matching regular routes: CrabaRide is especially strong for regular commutes – think Pretoria CBD to Sandton, Tygervalley to Cape Town CBD, or Umdloti to Durban CBD. You can find lift clubs that travel your route at your times.
Multiple access points: Whether you prefer the mobile app, website or even booking via WhatsApp, CrabaRide keeps carpooling accessible for people who don’t want another complicated app on their phones.
By making sharing a ride feel as simple and safe as booking a taxi, CrabaRide turns wasted empty seats into shared, lower-emission transport options – and gives you back some of those 96 lost hours a year.
You don’t need to redesign your whole life to start cutting your emissions and costs. Here’s a simple way to begin.
Home to work and back (e.g. Soweto to Johannesburg CBD, or Parow to Cape Town CBD).
Campus trips (e.g. Pretoria West to UP Hatfield, or Umlazi to UKZN).
Usual departure times from home and work.
Key roads and landmarks (e.g. “I take the N1 from Rivonia to Midrand”, or “I pass Canal Walk and Century City”).
This helps you match with others doing nearly the same route.
Start with 2–3 days a week where your schedule is predictable.
Choose days with the worst traffic for maximum impact – e.g. Tuesdays and Thursdays on the N1, or Monday mornings into Cape Town CBD.
Even that small change already cuts your emissions and costs for those days by half or more.
Next, use CrabaRide to find people doing similar routes:
Search by city and corridor – like Cape Town CBD, Bellville, Umhlanga, Sandton, Midrand, Pretoria, Durban CBD.
Look for regular rides that match your time windows.
If you don’t find a perfect match immediately:
Create your own regular route listing with clear times, pick-up points and expectations.
Mention landmarks locals know – “pick up by the Engen garage near the robot on Bowling Avenue”, or “meet at the taxi rank next to the main mall entrance”.
The clearer your route and timing, the easier it is for others to join.
Before your first shared ride, agree on a few basics in the chat:
Pick-up points and times: Be specific – “06:45 at the robot on Main & 14th”, not just “around 7”.
Cost-sharing: Agree upfront how you’ll split fuel and tolls. Many lift clubs use a flat weekly amount.
Music, aircon and eating: It sounds small, but setting expectations keeps everyone comfortable.
Always use CrabaRide’s in-app or verified channels to communicate, so there’s a record.
Share your trip details with a trusted friend or family member, especially for first-time rides.
Trust your instincts – if something feels off, you can always decline a ride.
Once you find a rhythm, treat your lift club like a regular part of your routine:
Plan your meetings and gym times around your shared commute where possible.
Have a backup plan for days you must drive alone or take a taxi/combi.
Encourage colleagues or neighbours to join. One extra passenger further lowers everyone’s costs and the emissions per person.
Your stress drops because you’re not always the one behind the wheel.
Your personal carbon footprint shrinks, because you’re no longer taking a whole car’s worth of emissions just for yourself.
The INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard makes it clear: Cape Town traffic congestion 2025 is not a temporary blip – it’s part of a global trend of rising delays and growing emissions.[1][2][3] Waiting for traffic to “get better” while we keep driving alone is not a strategy.
You can turn your empty car seats into a safe, verified lift club that cuts your emissions, eases congestion and saves you serious money. You can swap lonely, stressful drives for shared rides where costs, conversation and responsibility are all shared.
If you’re ready to stop wasting hours in gridlock and start making your commute work for you, join CrabaRide, South Africa’s trusted carpooling platform. Create or join a lift club for your route, share your next commute, and help cut South Africa traffic emissions one shared ride at a time.
Get started on Crab a Ride today: online at https://crabaride.co.za or directly via WhatsApp (+27713638315).
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